All posts filed under: cities and villages

The bikini season has finally begun – the sun shines every day – Let’s go to the beach!
But which one? With so many options, the decision is usually difficult. We often choose the easy way: The beach just around the corner which we have already visited numerous times..

Wanna try something new? Maybe visit a place that offers not only one single beautiful beach, but several ones? I guess that Calella de Palafrugell should be your next beach destination then!

The paradise of bays

In search of the most beautiful bay of the Costa Brava, we repeatedly found Calella de Palafrugell – Now we understand why!

A beach to fall in love with..

Located on a rocky coast, the former fishing village impresses with numerous small bays.. one more beautiful than the other! Gravel beaches provide an unique color of the sea – reminds me of the perfect bays of Ibiza .. Wow!

Stunning views everywhere!

A very charming place..

Perfect for a beach day!

In addition, the town is ideal for a hike – the perfect opportunity to visit two other breathtaking bays: Llafranc and Tamariu!

Calella de Palafrugell – a very special place..

Whether you would like to do a hike using the Camí de Ronda or just spend a nice day on the beach – Calella de Palafrugell will definitely not disappoint you!

Four months on the Costa Brava – the light blue sea on your doorstep, impressive cities and beaches just next door, summer temperature on a daily basis, nothing but fantastic views of beautiful landscapes and endless possibilities to do something unforgettable.

What could be missing? Now and then a short trip to other Spanish regions! There are plenty of possibilities to explore the country and many places can easily be reached from Barcelona. This is why I decided to spend an unforgettable weekend in Ibiza! I’d love to tell you everything about it..

SHOPPING IN IBIZA CITY

Just got out of the plane, inhaled the fresh Ibiza air and there they are: my friends are welcoming me to the beautiful island: We’re more than happy about the reunion! Big plans were made for these 3 days together – from now on, we won’t waste any time.

The harbour of Ibiza and the shopping streets next door!

First item on our agenda: Shopping in Ibiza city! Only 2 minutes are necessary to reach the shopping paradise from the harbour. Once arrived, you won’t be able to leave without buying way too many things: Ibiza city offers numerous fashion stores, boutiques, souvenir shops and much more. I guess I won’t be able to resist either..

IT’S POOL TIME!

The perfect place to enjoy the sun!

Now it’s time to relax and enjoy the fantastic pool with views to the sea! What more could you ask for? Our motto for the rest of the day: Put our bikinis on and jump into the cool water! After hours of sunbathing and swimming, the first day in Ibiza comes to an end. What’s still missing? Exactly: “One night in Ibiza!“

PARTY – PLAYA D’EN BOSSA

And off we go to the nightlife district, the Playa d’en Bossa, which welcomes us with a free round of shots! Couldn’t it always be like that? From bar to bar, the level of fun and alcohol is rising – sober? Not in Ibiza! The bars are crowded with people and the good mood is spreading – we wanna party!

Ibiza offers numerous clubs to suit every taste – the most popular of course: the USHUAÏA. The greatest DJs in the world guarantee a once in a lifetime party experience. To a night we’ll never forget!

Definitely one of the best clubs in the world!

SUNSET ON THE BEACH – CALA COMTE

After a night like this, there’s only one absolute priority: Sleeping. And bathing in the sun. And sleeping more.
Just kidding: it’s beach day! Destination: Cala Comte. Definitely one of the most beautiful beaches of Ibiza: Crystal clear water and breathtaking views of the small islands just off the coast. Also one of the most popular spots to enjoy the impressive colours of the sunset. Very romantic.

What a beautiful beach…

The most perfect sunset!

The later it gets, the more people arrive to say goodbye to the sun: They clap, whistle and cheer – what a wonderful atmosphere! Something you will probably only experience in Ibiza.

Breathtaking views.. even without the sun!

COCKTAILS – BAR KM5

Our next stop: A very special and glamorous bar called KM5, which impresses with a stylish and luxurious atmosphere. Actually, the term bar does not really do justice to the KM5: Not only does it have an open-air area, but also a restaurant, a club and an own boutique.

Cozy, isn’t it? 🙂

We decide to pick a nice spot in the outside area next to a radiant heater and enjoy the evening snuggled up in a brown leather couch and drinking delicious cocktails. Later, two women dressed in white come by to offer us a head massage – made us feel like queens!
Following the motto: „I’ll have one glass or two or three..“, the second evening ends very comfortably.

CALA D’HORT – RESTAURANT EL CARMEN

On my last day in Ibiza, we decide to enjoy the wonderful weather on the beach Cala D’Hort: as well one of the most beautiful beaches, including a unique view to the magical rock “Es Vedra”.

This view is very irresistible..

..and so is the sangria 😉

The magnificent weather makes it quite easy to forget about the time. Oh, it’s already this late? Time to head to the restaurant El Carmen, which is located less than 10 steps from the sandy beach. With an excellent paella and views to the sea, we say goodbye to Ibiza.

The Spanish cuisine – nobody could ever resist ..

After that, we make our way to the airport. An incredible weekend that I will definitely never forget: Viva Ibiza!

Spring is here and Easter is just around the corner. Easter in Catalonia means celebrating light and darkness – with music, colours and big emotions. An event for all senses, between grief, tradition, spookiness and party. Easter (Semana Santa in Spanish) is the most important and oldest feast of the Christians. The Resurrection of Christ symbolizes the victory of life over death. On Good Friday, catholics and protestants remember the crucifixion of Jesus. The Easter processions take place during the night in many towns in Spain.

Dancing skeletons at midnight

The hooded figures may make you shudder when walking through the medieval streets of Girona during Easter time. Especially in Verges, in the hinterland of the Costa Brava, it can get very spooky on Maundy Thursday, at midnight. There, people come together for one of the country’s oldest processions, the Dance of Death, first documented in 1666. Every year, in the flickering light of torches, this bizarre formation walks through the streets of Verges, around midnight. Five skeletons are dancing to the rhythm of the kettledrum. People seem very interested. Afterwards, there is a big party. All night long the bars and pubs are overcrowded.

The procession of the “Danza de la Muerte” indeed seems a little bit spooky.

The magic of the night

Everywhere in Spain, the ritual of the penitents is like the amen in the church. Eternal damnation? Atonement without any words? Doing penance with powerful images? As a traditional celebration or today’s reality? The processions of Semana Santa definitely raise some questions. Impressive but scary, fascinating and mysterious at the same time, the magic of the processions stays undenied. Darkness and light. Medieval sceneries. A crowd full of expectation. Powerful images.

Every now and then, you get to recognize children underneath the cowls participating in the Easter processions.

Saints as superstars

Paso (huge statues of saints on an altar, carried by people of different brotherhoods) for paso is passing us every year. The procession is headed by the Crucified, followed by the Virgin Mary. The life-sized figures are framed by a magnificent floral decoration. A floral scent mixed with incense is tickling our noses. People are filming and taking photographs. In the age of Instagram and Facebook, the whole world can watch the saints leaving the churches and taking a bath in the crowd. The digitalized saints seem like superstars. Until today, the processions of Semana Santa are an expressionist event you have to part of. Sadness and desperation together with enjoyment and happiness, emotions have never been closer. Even tough you might not believe in redemption and resurrection, now you get an idea of eternity.

The huge Saint statues are often beautifully decorated with flowers in all imaginable colours.

Tradition and party

In Girona, the doors of the cathedral’s mighty portal open at 10 pm. Slowly, the hooded figures, organized by the corresponding colours of their brotherhoods, are walking down the stairs towards the big square in front of the cathedral. Here, the procession will start with the shouldering of the pasos. After all, Semana Santa is not a deadly serious matter of faith. The big crowd formed by curious onlookers is in a good mood. Semana Santa is also a street party. Bars and cafés are busy, people are celebrating. You need to be lucky to find a free table. It is already past midnight when we get our first glass of Cava (Spanish sparkling wine). Salud, cheers and happy Easter!

During the processions of Semana Santa you can watch different brotherhoods with their colourful traditional costumes.

During the Easter processions, the Rambla in Girona gets filled with hundreds of curious people.

Vic’s small town beauty: Wide sandy beaches and the turquoise Mediterranean, small bays surrounded by steep cliffs, picturesque sailing boats and countless pine trees… For most people the epitome of Catalonia. It is easily forgotten that the interior of the Spanish region houses its own treasures. One of them: the charming small town Vic.

Vic’s Romanesque history

The Romanesque Pont de Queralt

Situated about 70 km to the north of Barcelona, the town with its 40.000 inhabitants finds itself surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Comarca Osona. Vic couldn’t be more picturesque, even if it tried. On the outside of town walls, surrounded by trees, one can find the ancient stone bridge Pont de Queralt.

Sur le pont…

Autumn in Vic

If something dates back to the 11th century and is that well preserved, it just has to be impressive! Up until 1274 the only way from Barcelona into the town led over the Romanesque arch bridge – after that, the king of that time decided to divert the old road; the new one led through the “Malloles“ gate. The beautiful bridge was named after a family of counts who lived in the town centre and it was even displayed on the back of a five peseta note issued in 1954.

Strolling through Vic

The baroque Església dels Dolors

Hidden church in Vic

Passing by the baroque Església dels Dolors, we continue our way towards the city centre; soon we reach Vic’s outstanding Cathedral.

Vic’s outstanding cathedral

The Romanesque bell tower is the tallest of its kind in Catalonia and presents, together with the Pont de Queralt, Vic’s most important landmarks.

The crypt and the remains of the Santa Maria church date back to the Romanesque era as well, the rest was built in a Gothic and neoclassical style.

A city full of history

On the other side of the church square lies the famous Episcopal Museum which was inaugurated in 1891. The building’s modern look misleads, though…inside it holds one of Europe’s best collections of medieval art including masterpieces of painting and sculpture from the Catalan Romanesque and Gothic periods.

Vic’s famous episcopal museum

The imposing Roman temple

A few steps further, we find the next historical treasure: the impressive Roman temple. The temple is the only remaining building of the city of Auso, as Vic was called in Roman times. Today it is regularly used to host exhibitions and cultural events.

Travel through time in the Catalan small town

Vic’s colourful streets

Through colourful streets in the typical Mediterranean style we find our way to the big Plaça Major – the town’s main square. The surrounding buildings are all from different eras. Particularly impressive: the Catalan modernism. Walking around the Plaça Major certainly feels like a travel through time.

Impressive Catalan modernism

It is also remarkable that all of the surrounding houses on the square were built with arcades in order to withstand the inclement weather; the arcades had to be high enough to accommodate a man on horseback – isn’t that clever?

Vic’s main square

We all do it: we underestimate Catalonia’s interior and above all small towns like Vic. But it’s these small, hidden places that have a lot to offer: historically interesting sights, beautiful nature right on the doorstep and a great deal of small-town-charm!

Some impressions of Vic…

Madrid, Barcelona, Seville or Valencia… everyone knows them and everyone is dying to go there. Without a doubt, all of these well-known Spanish metropolises have their own charming character but in search of my next travel destination I was looking for something different. I was looking for smaller and less known cities. Cities like Tarragona.

The Roman Tarragona

Tarragona – full of Roman history

The Catalan small town is situated about 100 km to the south of Barcelona, directly by the sea. Tarragona captivates above all with its great variety of medieval and, especially, Roman buildings.

Tarragona’s impressive Circ Roma

It is not surprising that a big part of the city has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. On my first day I decided to follow the traces of the Romans. If you’re like me and you absolutely love sightseeing you should get the cheaper combined ticket including the most important buildings.

The Roman amphitheatre with a stunning background

Early in the morning, after a delicious Xuixo and a cafe con leche, I start my archeological promenade with the first and most popular Roman monument. Located directly by the sea, the ancient amphitheatre dates back to the 2nd century AD. In Roman times countless gladiator fights took place in the ancient monument. Nowadays there are still fights happening in the summer but of course only for the tourist’s entertainment!

A city full of history

While enjoying the view from the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, I’m already looking for the route to the next monument. I don’t have to do a lot of planning though – the Roman Circus where horse and chariot races were held, and the provincial forum with its vaults and pilasters are less than 5 minutes away.

The provincial forum from the outside

Hidden underground passages lead from the Roman Circus to the Praetorium, a Roman-era tower with a viewing platform.

Underground-treasures

The Roman’s impressive work

As I make my way up the stairs, I have to stop again and again to look at the different sculptures. It is quite impressive to see how detailed and multi-faceted the Roman works are…

On top of Tarragona

Beautiful view from the roof

Finally, a narrow staircase leads up to the viewing platform on the building’s rooftop. With the excellent view of the old historic part of town on the one side and the endless Mediterranean on the other side, the platform is the perfect spot for a short breather. What better way to relax?

Walking along the Roman walls

Tarragona’s imposing Roman walls

But off I go again! The next sight is located only 15 minutes away. My path leads me through Tarragona’s beautiful and bustling alleys until I reach the Roman walls. As I am walking between palm trees and the impressively high Muralla, that has been surrounding the city since the 2nd century AD, I can almost imagine what life must have been like during the Roman times…

The remaining parts of the Local forum

After a short break in the trees’ shadow, I continue my way to the last monument of the day: the Local Forum. What was once used as the religious and social hub, now surrounded by modern day buildings almost seems a bit bizarre. Bizarre but interesting! I definitely envy the residents living around the remains of the ancient Fòrum Local. Because who wouldn’t like to wake up every morning with such a view?

Local Forum surrounded by modern houses

Tarragona’s modern side

Tarragona’s impressive cathedral

A new day, a new cafe con leche. Today I want to explore Tarragona’s modern side. The first sight on my schedule is the old cathedral which was built in a transitional style between Romanesque and Gothic. But, wait! Didn’t I talk about visiting Tarragona’s modern side? Well, the beautiful Catedral de Santa Maria is at least less old than the Roman part of town.

The outside of the ancient church doesn’t fail to impress me but, in my opinion, the real gem lies on the inside. The mysterious cloister with its beautiful rose garden truly amazes me and even reminds me a bit of Hogwarts!

The beauty lies inside..

The beauty of the Cathedral’s cloister is truly captivating…

A walk through Tarragona’s modern history

The traditional Castellers made out of bronze

I continue my promenade to the grand Plaça Imperial and from there I’m walking in the shadow of the trees along Tarragona’s beautiful Rambla. Not long after, I reach the town’s landmark: the Monumento a los Castellers. The iconic statue with its Castellers, the traditional Catalan human pyramid, towers high above my head.

Continuing along the Rambla…

Roger de Llúria

As I continue along the Rambla, I pass numerous sculptures and statues until I reach the majestic Monument a Roger de Llúria. Behind the huge statue I find of the most beautiful places Tarragona has to offer: the Balcó del Mediterrani. From the charming terrace lined with palm trees I have an excellent view of the sea, the beach and the ancient Roman amphitheatre.

Amazing view from Balco Mediterrano

A perfect ending in the city by the Sea

As I’m enjoying the sun and the sea air in this beautiful and relaxing spot, I can suddenly hear Catalan folk music in the distance. Soon after, I spot the traditional Giants dancing wildly through Tarragona’s streets.

The traditionally Catalan giants

Fascinated I follow the procession which leads me back to the cathedral. For the first time I can witness the famous Castellers in action! What I had previously seen in form of a statue, unmoved and made out of bronze, is now brought to life on the church square. Definitely the perfect ending in one of Catalonia’s most beautiful cities!

Just arrived in Girona, quickly collected your baggage and immediately heading to Barcelona? Wait!
Far too often, the charming city Girona is clouded by the Catalan capital Barcelona, which is larger, but also flooded by tourists. Not only is the beautiful medieval old town of Girona worth visiting – there are many more places to see.

The famous river Onyar and the colourful houses…

The church Sant Feliu

On a sunny morning, we decide to finally visit the city we had heard so many things about. Stepping out of the car, we realize that our car park is only a stone’s throw away from the church Sant Feliu. The perfect opportunity to visit the oldest church of Girona first! A very impressing building both from the outside and the inside, which combines different styles in a beautiful way.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria

The next monumental attraction is just around the corner: The Cathedral of Santa Maria. Probably the most popular selfie spot in town! We can’t resist, either.. The result: Far too many pictures of the building from every conceivable perspective.. Too bad that we left our selfie stick at home!

Also a filming location from Game of Thrones!

Once you’ve climbed the stairs with a total of 90 steps and entered the cathedral, you’ll definitely be overwhelmed by the size and, above all, the beauty of the interior. Again, a very impressive combination of different architectural styles – Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque.

Pont de les Peixateries Velles

While strolling through the Christmassy old town and store hopping through some sweet boutiques, we reach the next popular picture spot faster than expected: The red steel bridge Pont de les Peixateries Velles, which connects the old town of Girona to the modern part and was created by Gustave Eiffel. It offers a wonderful view to the river Onyar, the colourful facades and the impressive cathedral.

Passeig de la Muralla

It’s time to make our way to the last tourist spot: the city wall of Girona. What a view! The steep climb is rewarded with an impressive panoramic view of the old town, the cathedral, the Jewish quarter, the church and the Pyrenees.

This impressive view is totally worth it!

Christmas shopping in Girona

Enough sightseeing, we are in the mood for shopping! Many small shops and boutiques make it quite easy for us to find the perfect Christmas gifts for our loved ones. The city center is decorated with many colorful fairy lights and lovingly placed Christmas accessories – Oh, I can’t wait for Christmas!

Beautiful, isn’t it?

Rambla de la Llibertat

All these highlights and still no food! Luckily, Girona is brimming with restaurants that are waiting for hungry tourists to pass by! Following the smell of food, we walk to the Rambla de la Llibertat and pick a nice place in the shadow of a tree. With all the presents we bought, we are ready for the best time of the year – Merry Christmas!

Starting point: Cadaqués

Costa Brava’s “pearl”

Our promising trail starts in the region’s most popular fishing village: in Cadaqués. The small village is often called „the pearl of Costa Brava“ and those who have already payed a visit to Cadaqués understand perfectly why. The polished, snow-white houses together with the blue of the Mediterranean are dazzlingly beautiful. But because we don’t want to lose too much time, we’re not staying long in „the pearl“.

Short detour to Casa Dalí

Dalí’s art

Once we have climbed the first steep hill, we’re making a small detour to Cala de Portlligat. In an extraordinarily picturesque bay we come across Dalí’s famous residence. Even though it is hard, today we’re only stopping to admire the Casa-Museu Salvador Dalí from the outside – we still have a lot (of walking) ahead of us!

A hike through Catalonia’s nature

Olives everywhere!

Our hiking route continues and leads us from the beach up the hill past seemingly endless olive groves. Slowly I’m beginning to understand why olive oil tourism is booming in Catalonia! For a couple of minutes we’re walking in the shade of the olive trees, after that we’re continuing our way under the bright blue heaven between pine trees, cacti and other typically Mediterranean vegetation.

Walking in the shadow of the trees

Our beautiful hiking trail

Nature everywhere

While we’re following our trail, we still get to feel the quite strong autumn sun. With the Mediterranean to our right, the route is meandering along the rocky coast. Up and down, we make our way through the beautiful Catalan nature and enjoy the numerous breathtaking views.

Almost there!

Soon I catch a first glimpse of our final destination in the distance! The lighthouse shines bright like a diamond on the highest point of the Cap de Creus Natural Park and provides us with the necessary motivation for the last part of our hike. With the destination so close and the thought of a well-deserved ice cold Cerveza, the last couple of kilometres really fly by.

A well-deserved break from our hike

The dreamiest bay

Meanwhile, the sun is getting stronger and stronger while the sea is getting more tempting with every minute passing by. As it happens, we find the most beautiful bay of the whole hiking trail shortly before our last ascent. Crystal clear, turquoise water surrounded by cragged rocks and the picturesque lighthouse in the background…

Even the seagulls are enjoying the beautiful scenery!

Is this a dream? Naturally, after walking 7 kilometres in the bright sun, we seize the opportunity and cool down in this breathtaking scenery. Definitely a pleasure you don’t come across every day! We let the sun dry our bodies and after a couple of minutes relaxing on the beach, we take on the last part of our hike.

Ultimate hike destination: the light house

The iconic light house

After finally reaching the top, a breathtaking and incomparable view awaits us. Surrounded by steep cliffs and the deep blue Mediterranean, the beautiful light house towers above our heads.

Rocks and the deep blue sea

Next door, we find the charming restaurant and our long-awaited ice cold Cerveza. With the sunshine in our faces, we enjoy our well-deserved break for the next hour.

Magnificent view from the charming restaurant

I have to stop one last time and enjoy the amazing view!

Captivating view!

Refreshed and relaxed, we make our way back to Cadaqués where the evening sky is already showing off all of its beautiful colours. A day to remember…

The back country of the Costa Brava is filled with treasures. Where overcrowded cities and beaches take a back seat, the focus is on rural tranquility and medieval beauty. In quiet, car-free old towns with beautiful, lovingly restored buildings, you start a journey into another time.
Destination: The most beautiful medieval villages of Catalonia. One of them – Besalú.

The beauty of the Costa Brava, right in front of you!

The bridge offers spectacular views!

The idyllic river Fluvià

Enchanted by Besalú

Starting point of our little journey through Besalú: The gigantic, perfectly restored bridge Pont Vell. The view of the beautiful bridge, its two majestic towers, the river Fluvià, the picturesque old town with numerous medieval stone houses and the foothills of the Pyrenees is simply overwhelming. Nobody can resist here: Taking pictures of this view is a must!

Impressive, isn’t it?

Back to the past

Unleashed from everyday life, we enter a place far away from stress and worries. Small, narrow streets lead to the village square, the Plaça Llibertat with lively little restaurants and cafés. The Monastery of Sant Pere leaves you very stunned. Our thoughts wander far into the past. Our next stop: the Church of Sant Vicente – also an impressive Romanesque building.

The stunning Monastery of Sant Pere..

The Church of Sant Vicente is definitely worth visiting!

Definitely a highlight

In the former Jewish quarter, a very special highlight awaits us: a Jewish ritual bath. Only four of these species have survived across Europe – Wow! You cannot miss that. Such a magical place ..

A perfect walk..

A true masterpiece – Besalú

From the bank of the river Fluvià, we enjoy the unique view of the majestic bridge and the medieval work of art Besalú for the last time. While listening to the lapping of the river, we feel the passing time and the history surrounding this magical place.

I’d already heard quite a lot of things about the former fishing village – the typical Cadaqués style, the unique location and the views to numerous snow white houses made me feel very excited. Let’s see whether the white town of Dalí can sweep me off my feet ..

Stunning views

Spectacular views accompany you on your way to Cadaqués!

The rather twisting road on our way to Cadaqués already turned the car ride into a small experience: gliding from left to right and admiring one stunning view after another – I guess I could already imagine what the city has to offer. I couldn’t lay my phone aside for as much as 2 minutes before having to take way too many pictures of the wonderful bays and harbours again.

But heads up! Be careful and don’t let your phone drop out of the car – you wouldn’t be able to get it back …

White paradise

Cadaqués – a place to fall in love with!

A boat trip in Cadaqués is worth it!

After a car ride of about 15 minutes and 25 new pictures in my camera roll, we finally arrived: I had a small paradise right in front of me! Whether it is possible that absolutely every house in a village is painted white? So it seems. Whether it may be forbidden to build a house of a different colour here? I’d love to find out … Maybe I’ll know soon if I keep visiting and talking to locals!

Definitely worth visiting..

I have to admit, I was speechless: numerous snow white houses, green pine-trees, a beautiful church that attracts the views because of its height, the mountains behind it and the light blue sea with lots of white boats in front of Cadaqués. A stunning village! You have to visit once you are staying in Catalonia!

Restaurant Cap de Creus

But the car ride wasn’t over yet – again through the mountains! My phone’s camera had a busy day ..

Our destination was the restaurant Cap de Creus right next to the light house of Cadaqués. I could describe the evening in this stunning restaurant with one single word: WOW! I was and still am really impressed. It doesn’t matter where you’re sitting, the views are spectacular everywhere. In addition, a live band starts playing beautiful music just before sunset which brings the atmosphere to a maximum.

Chilling in a restaurant with a live band at the top of the mountains, holding a cold drink in your hand and watching the fantastic sunset – I don’t know if there’s something that could possibly be better than this!

Dinner in Cadaqués

After having extended my photo albums by more than 50 pictures and videos, it was time to return to the city centre of Cadaqués. In situ, we spent some time drinking a beer in front of a crowded bar next to the beach and went to the pizzeria Plaza after that: the only restaurant that could offer a table for 12 persons at nine in the evening without a reservation – the peak season was quite noticeable. After a delicious dinner including pizza, mussels, pasta and a free round of shots, we kept going.

Drinking a beer outside this building is a must!

Nice restaurants can be found at the Plaza Major

Bar Boia Nit

The ultimate destination was the popular bar Boia Nit, which is very famous for its stunning cocktails. Of course I had to check whether they are really that good.

So, I ordered a piña colada and was quite surprised to watch my cocktail arriving in a pineapple-shaped cup! But not just that: decorated with many small fruits, sipping the cocktail turned into a unique flavour experience! Get over there and try it. You won’t be disappointed!

Beautiful cocktail that tastes fantastic!

Not the last time..

Finally, we finished our special cocktails and spent some time talking and relaxing before heading back home. But: Cadaqués, I’ll be back soon!

Travelling through medieval times. The Spanish region Catalonia is known for many things. Breathtaking scenery, similar to Italy’s Tuscany, the impressive coast with its steep cliffs and the seemingly endless Mediterranean… and of course a number of charming villages captivating with their history.

Hidden corners in the medieval village

Medieval idyll

With its 2500 inhabitants, the small and historical town Pals is classified as one of the ten most beautiful Catalan villages. After a visit on an early autumnal but sunny afternoon in September, I now understand perfectly why.

Situated on a small hill, Pals’ name derives from the Latin word “palus” meaning marsh. As the name already insinuates it was once surrounded by lakes and moors. These days the village is lined by trees in all shades of green and paddy fields where the typical Spanish paella rice is produced. Arriving at the villages entrance, we abandon our car and continue by foot – the only way you should be passing these hilly, narrow streets!

Time travel in the Catalan village

Medieval time travel in Pals

After taking a few steps we reach Pals’ gates and feel as if we’re transferred to a different era. Those who are expecting even a touch of modernity are searching in vain. Thanks to an impeccable restauration the whole villages medieval basic structure is still well-preserved. You can almost hear the horse’s hooves on the bumpy cobblestone of Pals’ narrow streets and our thoughts wander… What life must have been like here in earlier times?

Torre de les Hores – the town’s landmark

Torre de les Hores in medieval Pals

We continue our path along the old stone walls covered with picturesque ivory and reach the town’s landmark. The “Torre de les Hores” – a Romanesque tower – sits majestically on top of the hill characterising the townscape. Moving further you find yourself on a little square with a viewing platform overlooking the beautiful surroundings and the dark blue sea. On clear days you’ll even be able to see the Medes Isles.

Green idyll in Pals

After enjoying the panoramic view for a while, we stroll down the old stone steps to the centre of the village. For those looking for a refreshment or a bite to eat, Pals offers a nice selection of cafés and restaurants considering the villages rather low number of inhabitants. One definitely doesn’t have to starve in Pals!

After this first travel through time to the Middle Ages one thing is for sure: we are excited to see what the other nine villages have to offer!